Dressing for the Big Day

The Bride:

Every bride will have been dreaming about her wedding dress long before there was ever talk of a wedding. So it is no wonder that brides to be, spend so much time finding the dress of their dreams and often, a large percentage of their overall wedding budget on their dream dress, this is why it is so important to get the right dress. Here are some top tips for choosing the style that’s right for you.

Ball gown/Full skirt.
This is the full Cinderella dress, and it is the dress that most of us imagine wearing on our wedding day. These styles are available in various sizes and fabrics, ranging from Jordan’s memorable ballerina sized skirt to a more subtle ball gown. Fabric is important here as a ballerina style will often be made from netting which can make you appear larger than you really are, while a smooth satin material will give a more flattering look.

A-line dresses:
These dresses are best for those of us with a smaller bust and slimmer figure. The skirt starts below the bust and the dress is slim line as oppsed to the ball gown.

Corset and Skirt:
This is now a popular style as you can mix and match the top half of your dress with the bottom depending on your body shape and the style you would like.
Corset tops will suit most brides as it doesn’t matter what size you are, as the corset can be as big or small as you want it to be and will fit snugly, however for this reason brides with a fuller bust may find that a corset style will make a larger bust look bigger.

Necklines:-

Strapless:
This is by far the most popular neckline for wedding dresses mainly because it looks elegant and suits most people. However you may wish to consider wearing a bolero over this style of dress especially if you are not getting married in the summer.

Halterneck:
This is an unusual style of neckline which works well for women with a smaller bust. But be careful when choosing a halterneck dress as you may find that bolero’s look odd over them and they can be unflattering on curvier women.

Spaghetti Straps.
This is a neckline that will suit all but is not so popular at the moment. The main problem found with spaghetti straps is that a heavy dress can cause the straps to dig into your skin and can be uncomfortable, to overcome this you could try thicker straps or even cap sleves instead of a full sleeve.

Sweetheart Neckline:
This is the most popular neckline for wedding dresses due to its soft, flattering style. Shaped like the bottom of a heart this neckline is classic and therefore always a popular choice.

Extras:

In the past few years tiara’s have replaced the traditional veil in bridal headwear. But if you want to wear a veil you will need to decide whether you want it to come to your chin or your toes. You will also need to make sure that the colour of the veil matches your dress, if it is slightly off white compared to your dress it won’t be obvious to the naked eye but will show clearly when next to your dress. If possible get a sample of your wedding dress in the exact colour and material for comparison purposes.

Long gloves are another popular accessory, but remember that if their white any dirt will show, and you will need to remove them before exchanging rings.
If your dress will leave your shoulders bare, you may want a bolero or light shrug to match your dress which you will be able to put on or take off when/if you want to throughout your day.

Get the right white! The shades…

Stark White – the brightest, crispest white that you will find!
Silk, Diamond or Natural White – this is a shade off Stark White, although it is almost the same in photographs!
Ivory – this is the most popular shade and is also known as ‘eggshell’ or ‘candlelight’. Some Ivory dresses are creamy in colour due to yellow undertones others are just a ‘quite’ white.
Rum or Champagne – this is a white with a pink undertone which suits darker skin.

People with fair skin suit yellow-ivories and warmer natural colours, avoid Stark White as this will more than likely wash you out. For those with medium skin with pink undertones opt for creamy colours as these make your skin look more radiant, whereas those with medium skin with yellow undertones should aim to select a dress in diamond or champagne to look their best. For you people out there with darker skin… lucky you! You will look great in almost any shade of white although Stark White or Rum will look especially stunning!

The Groom:

While most of us will think that a suit is a suit, there are actually many choices for your groom depending on the look you are trying to create.

The morning suit:
This is the traditional wedding suit for the groom and groomsmen. It includes a black tailcoat, waistcoat and pinstripe trousers. Traditionally a winged collared shirt and cravat were worn but now a standard white shirt and a tie are often the popular choice.

The Lounge Suit:
Similar to the morning suit but less formal, this type of suit is better for more informal weddings.

Waistcoats:
Waistcoats allow for a little creativeness within the traditional suit. There are loads of patterns and colours to choose from and you can match the waistcoats to your bridesmaids to continue your theme.

Extras:
Top hats and gloves are great extras for formal weddings but don’t forget the extra cost whether you are buying or hiring them, remember if you are hiring hats and gloves for all the groomsmen make sure they don’t put them down and loose them as you’ll have to pick up the bill for lost items.

The Best Man and Ushers:

Bridesmaids:

When choosing the style of dress for your bridesmaids consider what would suit them best and what they would feel most comfortable in, remember these are the people who have been there for you, try to put their comfort first. A popular idea is to choose a fabric and colour and then let the bridesmaids decide upon the style of dress they would be comfortable wearing and reach a compromise. You could even have them in different styles as long as the colours are matching.

There are now hundreds of different designs to choose from when it comes to buying dresses for your bridesmaids and they vary as much in price as they do in style.
Most people choose bridesmaids dresses that fall below the knee or touch the floor, these types of dresses are the most popular for weddings and will suit most people. You will probably find that your bridesmaids are all different shapes and sizes and it is best not to make anyone feel self conscious, think about their body types and choose dresses that will complement them. Remember to think about shoes and jewellery, most people prefer all their bridesmaids to be matching, right down to earrings and nail polish, if you want to create this look remember to plan it early and discuss it with your bridesmaids. Make sure you get together in the run up to the wedding to talk about their part in your big day, if possible make sure they have all met each other before, that way they won’t feel awkward talking to each other and working together of needed to.

Page Boys and Flower Girls:

It’s always a gamble including children in your wedding, but don’t forget their a part of your family too. Let them feel as though they have chosen their outfits and make them feel that their role is just as important as anyone else’s. It is best to be relaxed with children and don’t be surprised if on the day they are too nervous to take part.

Most children love to be made a fuss off and little girls especially will enjoy dressing up and taking part in your big day, little boys can be less enthusiastic but don’t take this to mean they don’t want to be involved.
When it comes to outfits most people choose to dress their page boys in miniature versions of the groom and bestmans suits (which normally looks adorable) while flower girls are often put in white and do not often wear the same outfits as the bridesmaids. Debenhams and John Lewis both stock selections of fantastic dresses for flower girls or very young bridesmaids.
Don’t forget to make the most of these extra pairs of hands no matter how small they may be, if you are getting married in a church they can help hand out the order of service at the door and show people to their seats. Don’t forget to use the people you have around and don’t try to do everything yourself otherwise you wont have enough time to enjoy your day.

Mother of the bride:

We all know the stereotype that the words ‘mother of the bride’ conjures in peoples minds and there is no doubt that your mother will probably try to be involved a little more than you would want, but remember, she is your mother and she just wants to be involved. So make sure she feels a part of your big day, as it’s a big day for her too, she will after all be giving away her little girl. It’s an emotional time so remember to be sensitive and make sure she feels special too.

The chances are your mother will buy more outfits than she could wear in a year in an attempt to find the perfect one. Remember if your mother comes with you to look at wedding dresses you might want to return the favour and go with her to choose her outfit. Mums tend to get as nervous as the brides on wedding days and she will know that all eyes will be on you but that people will notice her outfit too and she will want to look her very best. Try not to dictate to her what she can wear, if you really dislike the outfit she chooses try to sensitively encourage her that something else would be more appropriate. Remember to make good use of her experiences, the chances are the old truth that mums know better will turn out to be true.